More and more people are looking into alternatives to traditional gas heating these days, thanks to the approaching boiler ban and the rising costs of gas. One of the most popular alternatives people are opting for is electric heating – it’s efficient, smart and more eco-friendly.
But, with the rising costs of electricity, some people are concerned that making the switch to electric heating isn’t viable for their budget. That’s where we come in. In this article we’ll answer the most popular question we’re asked here at North East Heating Solutions – are electric radiators expensive to run?
How much does it cost to run an Electric Radiator?
There’s a simple calculation you can use to estimate the cost of running an electric radiator in your home:
(Radiator output kW x hours in use) x pence per kW hour = daily cost of radiator (p)
So, say your radiator is 800w and you’re using it on full power for 3 hours a day, you would do 0.8 (kW) x 3 = 2.4 kW/h.
Then, you need to know your tariff to work out the daily cost. For example, if you’re on a tariff that costs 16p per kilowatt hour, you would do 2.4 (kW/h) x 16 = 32p.
However, Elkatherm A++ rated radiators have been independently tested and they only draw power for around 17 minutes per hour, on average. This means the above calculation would be less than 0.9p.
You can then multiply this by the number of radiators that you use in your home every day to get a rough idea of what you’ll be spending each day running electric radiators in your home.
However, it’s important to remember that this is a simple calculation that doesn’t consider a wide range of factors that will affect how much electric radiators cost to run.
Factors That Influence the Cost of Running Electric Radiators
Let’s take a look at the different factors that will influence the actual cost of running electric radiators in your home…
Energy Usage Habits
One of the most important factors that will determine how much it will cost you to run electric radiators in your home is how you use your heating. Some people will put their heating on for an hour in the morning and then again in the evening, whereas others will have it running all the time. Some people will only turn on the radiators in the rooms they’re using, but others might leave them all on regardless.
It’s clear that how you use your heating will dramatically influence the cost of running electric radiators. It goes without saying that the more energy you use, the higher your energy bills will be.
Fortunately, with modern electric radiators and electric storage heaters, you get the benefit of complete control via an easy-to-use app that allows you to control individual radiators in every room with just a tap of the screen. This means you can simply tap to turn them on when and where you need them – reducing the running costs dramatically!
Electric radiators also heat up much faster than traditional gas heating systems and stay warmer for longer too, so you won’t need to have them on as much as your old radiators – again reducing the overall running costs.
Efficiency of your Electric Radiators
The running cost of your electric radiators will also be impacted by the efficiency of your heating solutions. Fortunately, most electric radiators are incredibly efficient as, unlike traditional gas systems, 100% of the energy used to power them is converted to heat.
They also take less time and therefore energy to get hot; like our ELKAtherm radiators that reach maximum heat in just 5 minutes! With the ability to achieve instant heat with zero energy wastage, our electric radiators are extremely energy efficient. So much so that our customers have saved around 30% on their energy bills!
Size of Your Home
The size of your home, and the energy efficiency of your home, are also something that needs to be taken into consideration when working out the cost of electric radiators. A larger home obviously requires more radiators to heat the property, so, naturally, it will cost more to heat a 4-bedroom detached home than it would a 1-bedroom flat. Though with that being said, you can just heat the rooms you use when you need to, using your smart app.
If your home is properly insulated, no draughts, etc. you’ll get much more for your money. If your home isn’t energy efficient, then you won’t reap the benefits above and the running costs of your electric radiators will be higher than they would be if your home was efficient.
Don’t forget these factors when considering the potential running costs of electric radiators in your home!
Are electric radiators cheaper to run than gas?
Again, this is a question that doesn’t have a straightforward yes or no answer as there are a lot of contributing factors that need to be considered. Yes, the current cost of electricity per unit is nearly three times higher than the current cost per unit of gas. But, with the right electric heating system, like ELKAtherm, you can dramatically minimise the amount of time your radiators need to be on, thereby majorly reducing the amount of electricity you use.
Plus, it’s also worth bearing in mind that electric radiators have a much longer lifespan than a gas-powered central heating system so there’s no need to fork out for a whole new system every 10-15 years – saving you money in the long run. There’s also little to no maintenance required for electric radiators either, meaning you’ll save money on servicing too!
Making the switch to Electric Radiators
If you’re interested in reaping the benefits of electric radiators, trust North East Heating Solutions to manage your upgrade. We’re experts in updating heating systems to more energy-efficient, money-saving, and eco-friendly solutions, including electric radiators, hot water systems, and heat pumps.
Book a free home survey with us today by calling 0800 026 749 or emailing at info@northeastheatingsolutions.co.uk to see how electric radiators could transform your home!
